US4944617A - Encoder employing a shock absorbing tension spring - Google Patents

Encoder employing a shock absorbing tension spring Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US4944617A
US4944617A US07/342,215 US34221589A US4944617A US 4944617 A US4944617 A US 4944617A US 34221589 A US34221589 A US 34221589A US 4944617 A US4944617 A US 4944617A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
end portion
spring
shaped
generally
tension spring
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/342,215
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John Tribert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NCR Voyix Corp
Original Assignee
NCR Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NCR Corp filed Critical NCR Corp
Priority to US07/342,215 priority Critical patent/US4944617A/en
Assigned to NCR CORPORATION, A CORP. OF MD reassignment NCR CORPORATION, A CORP. OF MD ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: TRIBERT, JOHN
Priority to JP2100578A priority patent/JPH039132A/ja
Priority to DE69011572T priority patent/DE69011572T2/de
Priority to EP90304373A priority patent/EP0395350B1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US4944617A publication Critical patent/US4944617A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J9/00—Hammer-impression mechanisms
    • B41J9/16—Means for cocking or resetting hammers
    • B41J9/20—Springs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J9/00—Hammer-impression mechanisms
    • B41J9/42—Hammer-impression mechanisms with anti-rebound arrangements

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an encoder having a special construction which includes a shock absorbing spring to extend the life of the encoder.
  • fly encoders which are used in printing tend to deteriorate after they have been in operation for a while.
  • a typical application for a fly encoder relates to printing or encoding MICR data on a document as the document is moved along a track or channel.
  • the encoder may require some adjustment in order to meet the rather strict specifications required for the encoding of MICR data. The adjustment is usually made by technical personnel via a service call. Several such adjustments and re-adjustments may be necessary during the life of the fly encoder.
  • fly encoders of the type mentioned Another problem with the fly encoders of the type mentioned is that the individual parts of the encoders tend to wear out after about 100 million cycles of operation or after processing about 5 million documents. Aside from the parts becoming “loose fitting", some of the parts actually wear through contacting parts. For example, a coiled tension spring which is used to return the associated print hammer or beam to a home position may actually cut through the beam. Naturally, this results in "down time" for the machine in which the encoder is used, and it also requires another service call.
  • the encoder of the present invention has a life of about one billion cycles of operation.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that there is less wearing of individual parts of the encoder, and consequently, there are fewer service calls to be made when compared to prior art encoders of the type mentioned.
  • an apparatus comprising: a beam having first and second beam end portions; mounting means for mounting said beam for pivotal movement to enable said first beam end portion to be moved between a first position and a second position; a beam stop; a mounting member on said beam; and a tension spring coupled to said beam and said mounting means to resiliently bias said first beam end portion to said first position against said beam stop; said tension spring having a body portion and first and second spring end portions extending from said body portion, with said first spring end portion being secured to said mounting means; said second spring end portion having a first generally U-shaped portion to partially surround said mounting member and also having a second generally U-shaped portion to enable a portion of said beam to be received therein; and said second spring end portion being shaped to cause said body portion of said tension spring to assume an arched position when said first beam end portion is positioned against said beam stop and also being shaped to increase an area of contact between said first generally U-shaped portion and said mounting member as said first beam end portion is moved from said first position toward
  • a print hammer apparatus comprising: a beam having first and second beam end portions; mounting means for mounting said beam for pivotal movement to enable said first beam end portion to be moved between a home position and an impact area; a beam stop; a stud extending from said beam; a tension spring coupled to said mounting means and said beam to resiliently bias said first beam end portion to said home position against said beam stop; and an actuator coupled to said second beam end portion to pivot said beam to move said first beam end portion from said home position to said impact area when said actuator is energized; said tension spring having a body portion and first and second end portions extending from said body portion, with said first end portion being secured to said mounting means; said second end portion of said tension spring having a first generally U-shaped portion to partially surround said stud and also having a second generally U-shaped portion to enable a portion of said beam to be received therein; and said second end portion of said tension spring being shaped to cause said body portion of said spring to assume an arched position
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, showing an encoder in a home or first position;
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the encoder in a second or an active position in which the associated hammer strikes an impact area;
  • FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of a spring shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the spring being shown in a relaxed state in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5;
  • FIG. 4 is a side view of the spring shown in FIG. 3, with the view being taken from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of the spring shown in FIG. 3, with the view being taken from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the encoder shown in FIGS. 1-5, with this figure also showing some elements not included in FIGS. 1-5.
  • FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an apparatus like an encoder 10 made in accordance with this invention.
  • the encoder 10 includes a generally planar hammer or beam 12 having the shape shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • the beam 12 has a first beam end portion 12-1 and a second beam end portion 12-2, with the beam 12 being pivotally mounted between these end portions on a pivot member 14.
  • the pivot member 14 is part of a means for mounting the beam 12 for pivotal movement between a first or home position shown in FIG. 1 and a second or an impact position shown in FIG. 2.
  • the mounting means also includes a frame 16, with the frame 16 being secured to a support 18 by a fastener 20.
  • the frame 16 is adjustably mounted on the support 18 (via a slot in the frame 16) to provide flexibility in mounting the encoder 10 relative to an impact area 24.
  • the impact area 24 represents or includes a typewheel 24-1, a ribbon 24-2, a document 24-3, and indexing means 24-4 for indexing the typewheel 24-1 to present a preselected character or characters on the typewheel for encoding.
  • the first beam end portion 12-1 has a hammer 26 which impacts against the impact area 24 (FIG.
  • controller 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which may be part of a machine (not shown) like an encoding and proof machine, for example.
  • the encoder 10 also includes a beam stop 32 which is formed of a flange portion 32-1 of the frame 16 and a resilient member 32-2 which is secured to the flange portion 32-1.
  • a tension spring 36 When the beam 12 is in the first position shown in FIG. 1, the beam 12 is resiliently biased against the beam stop 32 by a tension spring 36.
  • the design of the tension spring 36 increases the life of the encoder 10 as will be explained hereinafter.
  • FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show additional details of the tension spring 36 when this spring is in a relaxed state.
  • the spring 36 is shown enlarged in the figures.
  • the spring 36 is made of #8 Gauge music wire (0.5 mm in diameter). In the embodiment described, the free length of the spring 36 is about 19.3mm, with the remaining portions of this spring being drawn to scale.
  • the size of the beam 12 and the tension spring 36 are shown in approximately the correct size relative to each other in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • Spring 36 has first and second spring end portions 36-1 and 36-2, respectively, which extend in opposed directions from a body portion 36-3 of the spring 36.
  • the first spring end portion 36-1 has a generally "C"-shaped hook thereon which is secured to a mounting stud 37 which extends from the frame 16 as seen in FIG. 1.
  • the second spring end 36-2 is coupled to the beam 12 (via a second stud 38 and a portion 12-6 of the beam 12) to bias the first beam end portion 12-1 to the first or home position as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the second spring end 36-2 of the tension spring 36 is formed to cause the body portion 36-3 to assume an "arched" shape when the spring 36 is mounted on the beam 12 and the first beam end portion 12-1 is positioned against the beam stop 32 as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the shape of the body portion 36-3 is generally convex as viewed from the beam stop 32 in FIG. 1. The function of the arching will become clearer as the explanation proceeds.
  • the second spring end 36-2 has a first generally "U"-shaped portion 40 (FIG. 3) which includes first and second legs 40-1 and 40-2 and a joining portion 40-3, with the first leg 40-1 being connected to the body portion 36-3 of the spring 36.
  • the second spring end 36-2 also has a second "U"-shaped portion 42 (FIG.
  • FIG. 4 which includes a first leg 42-1 and the second leg 40-2 which is shared in common with the first "U"-shaped portion 40.
  • a joining portion 42-3 connects the first leg 42-1 and the second leg 40-2 as shown best in FIG. 4.
  • the portion 12-6 of the beam 12 is received in the second "U"-shaped portion 42 when the spring 36 and the beam 12 are assembled as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the leg portions 40-1 and 40-2 diverge away from each other at an angle of about 30 degrees.
  • the leg portions 40-1 and 40-2 diverge away from each other at an angle of about ten degrees which is about one third of the relaxed state angle.
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the encoder 10 and its associated elements shown in FIGS. 1-5.
  • the support 18 (shown only schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2) is shown in more detail in FIG. 6.
  • the support 18 includes a lower support member 18-1 and an upper support member 18-2.
  • the lower support 18-1 has a Vespel (Trademark of E.I. Dupont De Nemours) tubular bearing 44 which is press fitted into a mating opening therein so as to leave a short portion 44-1 of the bearing 44 extending above the lower support 18-1.
  • the lower support 18-1 also has two threaded pins 46 and 48 upstanding therefrom as shown in FIG. 6.
  • the pins 46 and 48 are shown in their approximate positions and in dashed outlines in FIGS.
  • the Vespel material for bearing 44 is plastic which is as tough as steel.
  • the frame 16 is positioned on the lower support 18-1 so that an opening 50 in the frame 16 is positioned around the short portion 44-1 of the bearing 44, and the fastener 20 is secured to the lower support 18-1 to secure the frame 16 thereto.
  • the beam 12 has several ferrous laminations 12-3 and 12-4 which are positioned on opposed sides of the beam 12 and secured thereto by a fastener 12-5.
  • the laminations 12-3 and 12-4 cooperate with the actuator 28 to move the hammer 26 to the impact area 24 whenever the actuator 28 is energized by the controller 30.
  • the beam 12 is mounted on the frame 16 by inserting the lower end of the pivot member 14 (as viewed in FIG. 6) into the bearing 44.
  • the tension ,spring 36 is then coupled to the beam 12 and the stud 37 as previously described.
  • the actuator 28 (FIG. 1) is made up of a laminated "U"-shaped core 52, a winding 54, and a "T"-shaped element 56 which is made of the same material as is the bearing 44.
  • the "T"-shaped element 56 is positioned in a receiving recess 58 on the core 52, and thereafter, winding 54 is pushed over the leg 52-1 of the core 52. Because the laminations in the core 52 are uneven, the "T"-shaped element 56 provides a straight and durable stop for the second beam end portion 12-2 to keep the beam 12 from rocking when the hammer 26 impacts against the impact area 24 and the beam end 12-2 comes to a stop against the "T"-shaped element 56.
  • the actuator 28 is then positioned on the threaded pins 46 and 48 via holes 60 and 62, respectively, in the core 52.
  • the encoder 10 includes the upper support 18-2 which has a Vespel tubular bearing 64 press fitted therein.
  • This bearing 64 has a short portion 64-1 which extends below the bottom surface of the upper support 18-2 as viewed in FIG. 6.
  • the short portion 64-1 (FIG. 1) faces the beam 12.
  • the actual clearance 15 is about 0.025 mm in the embodiment described.
  • the bearing 64 receives the upper end of the pivot member 14 (as viewed in FIG. 6) when the upper support 18-2 is mounted on the threaded pins 46 and 48.
  • a thin tubular sleeve 14-1 passing through the laminations 12-3, the beam 12, and the laminations 12-4 and having the ends thereof flattened, functions as a fastener to hold these elements together.
  • the pin 14 is retained in the tubular sleeve 14-1 by press fitting.
  • Holes 66 and 68 in the upper support 18-2 are provided for receiving the threaded pins 46 and 48, respectively, and suitable washers 70 and nuts 72 and 74 are used to secure the encoder 10 in assembled relationship.
  • a dust cover 76 which is coupled to a box 54-1 in which the winding 54 is located, is used to keep dust out of the encoder 10.
  • the tension spring 36 has been redesigned to bring about three different kinds of activities, namely:

Landscapes

  • Transmission And Conversion Of Sensor Element Output (AREA)
  • Character Spaces And Line Spaces In Printers (AREA)
  • Labeling Devices (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
US07/342,215 1989-04-24 1989-04-24 Encoder employing a shock absorbing tension spring Expired - Fee Related US4944617A (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/342,215 US4944617A (en) 1989-04-24 1989-04-24 Encoder employing a shock absorbing tension spring
JP2100578A JPH039132A (ja) 1989-04-24 1990-04-18 衝撃吸収ばね付エンコーダ
DE69011572T DE69011572T2 (de) 1989-04-24 1990-04-24 Druckgerät.
EP90304373A EP0395350B1 (de) 1989-04-24 1990-04-24 Druckgerät

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/342,215 US4944617A (en) 1989-04-24 1989-04-24 Encoder employing a shock absorbing tension spring

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4944617A true US4944617A (en) 1990-07-31

Family

ID=23340864

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US07/342,215 Expired - Fee Related US4944617A (en) 1989-04-24 1989-04-24 Encoder employing a shock absorbing tension spring

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US4944617A (de)
EP (1) EP0395350B1 (de)
JP (1) JPH039132A (de)
DE (1) DE69011572T2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9375959B2 (en) 2012-08-29 2016-06-28 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Locking mechanism for an encoder strip

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5647777B2 (ja) 2009-08-11 2015-01-07 レオン自動機株式会社 食品生地切断片旋回装置
JP5466989B2 (ja) 2010-04-28 2014-04-09 レオン自動機株式会社 食品生地の整列方法及び装置

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US794202A (en) * 1905-02-21 1905-07-11 Charles M Tipton Spring-wheel.
US1421083A (en) * 1921-09-13 1922-06-27 Royal Typewriter Co Inc Typewriting machine
US1872872A (en) * 1928-09-13 1932-08-23 Bendix Brake Co Support
US2297753A (en) * 1939-12-29 1942-10-06 Emery Arthur Thomas Valve spring assembly
US2353057A (en) * 1941-04-08 1944-07-04 Ibm Printing mechanism
US2625100A (en) * 1947-07-24 1953-01-13 Ncr Co Printing hammer rebound preventing means
GB720973A (en) * 1953-05-27 1954-12-29 Rex Trewartha Improvements in or relating to springs
DE2151296A1 (de) * 1970-10-20 1972-04-27 Odec Comp Systems Inc Schlaghammer fuer einen Zeilendrucker
US4313682A (en) * 1980-02-26 1982-02-02 Triumph-Adler Aktiengesellschaft Fur Buround Informationstechnik Final positioning vibration damping device for type disc typewriters
US4522122A (en) * 1983-05-03 1985-06-11 Ncr Canada Ltd - Ncr Canada Ltee Fast impact hammer for high speed printer
JPH073866A (ja) * 1993-06-15 1995-01-06 Aron Kasei Co Ltd 真空式下水道システムに用いる真空弁の遮断弁

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3601204A (en) * 1969-07-11 1971-08-24 Teletype Corp Dynamic hammer and methods of striking workpieces

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US794202A (en) * 1905-02-21 1905-07-11 Charles M Tipton Spring-wheel.
US1421083A (en) * 1921-09-13 1922-06-27 Royal Typewriter Co Inc Typewriting machine
US1872872A (en) * 1928-09-13 1932-08-23 Bendix Brake Co Support
US2297753A (en) * 1939-12-29 1942-10-06 Emery Arthur Thomas Valve spring assembly
US2353057A (en) * 1941-04-08 1944-07-04 Ibm Printing mechanism
US2625100A (en) * 1947-07-24 1953-01-13 Ncr Co Printing hammer rebound preventing means
GB720973A (en) * 1953-05-27 1954-12-29 Rex Trewartha Improvements in or relating to springs
DE2151296A1 (de) * 1970-10-20 1972-04-27 Odec Comp Systems Inc Schlaghammer fuer einen Zeilendrucker
US4313682A (en) * 1980-02-26 1982-02-02 Triumph-Adler Aktiengesellschaft Fur Buround Informationstechnik Final positioning vibration damping device for type disc typewriters
US4522122A (en) * 1983-05-03 1985-06-11 Ncr Canada Ltd - Ncr Canada Ltee Fast impact hammer for high speed printer
JPH073866A (ja) * 1993-06-15 1995-01-06 Aron Kasei Co Ltd 真空式下水道システムに用いる真空弁の遮断弁

Non-Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 22, No. 12, May 1980. *
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 24, No. 4, Sep. 1981. *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9375959B2 (en) 2012-08-29 2016-06-28 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Locking mechanism for an encoder strip

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69011572D1 (de) 1994-09-22
EP0395350B1 (de) 1994-08-17
DE69011572T2 (de) 1995-04-27
JPH039132A (ja) 1991-01-17
EP0395350A3 (de) 1991-11-27
EP0395350A2 (de) 1990-10-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7927031B2 (en) Impact printhead
KR900007139B1 (ko) 도트 프린터 헤드
US4944617A (en) Encoder employing a shock absorbing tension spring
EP0374673B1 (de) Punktnadelanschlagdrucker
CA1139004A (en) Electro-magnetic print hammer
US3968744A (en) Self-damping unitary print hammer for high speed printers
US4634303A (en) Actuator for dot matrix printhead
US4669898A (en) Dot matrix print head
US4882987A (en) Attaching device in a spring-charged dot printer
US4534287A (en) Dot matrix print head
US4869605A (en) Wire-dot printing head with adjustable spring force
US5024543A (en) Impact dot print head
KR200151272Y1 (ko) 충격식 도트 매트릭스 프린트헤드
ATE18021T1 (de) Schwingrahmen-vorrichtung fuer die druckelemente eines matrix-zeilendruckers.
KR200155122Y1 (ko) 도트 프린터헤드의 니이들 조립체
US4134336A (en) Half-herringbone support for restricting sideways vibration of comb hammers
US5215389A (en) Print head for a dot matrix printer
EP0250051B1 (de) Nadeldruckkopf
US5188467A (en) Print head with energizing and return leaf springs
JPS5948843U (ja) 印字ハンマ
NZ207877A (en) Dot matrix print head:reciprocating print wire guide adjacent paper
JPS6324835B2 (de)
JPH026147A (ja) インパクトドット式印字ヘッド
EP0768184A2 (de) Druckkopf mit Druckdrähten
JPS63236658A (ja) 高速型印字ヘツド

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: NCR CORPORATION, A CORP. OF MD, OHIO

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:TRIBERT, JOHN;REEL/FRAME:005066/0725

Effective date: 19890405

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 8

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20020731